Structured Exercise Programme and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm focused on measuring exercise programme
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male participants ≥ 18
- Under surveillance as part of the AAA screening or surveillance programme with an AAA that is between 4.5 cm and 5.4 cm
- Able and willing to provide informed consent
- Understand verbal and written instructions in English
- Able to safely perform a cardiopulmonary exercise test (this will confirm they can use a cycle ergometer)
- Patients who are already participating (or have participated) in other trials may be eligible, but the relevant trial teams must agree this in advance.-
Exclusion Criteria:
- Contra-indications to exercise (lower limb amputation without prosthesis, bone, joint or muscle problem which may be exacerbated by exercise, chronic lung disease causing desaturation with exercise or shortness of breath at rest, severe psychiatric health problems)
- Cardiovascular contra-indications (unstable angina, acute left ventricular failure, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias, uncontrolled hypertension, cardiac event in the previous 6 weeks, cerebral vascular accident in the previous 6 weeks)
- Participation in other treatment trials, where this has not been agreed in advance with both trial teams
- Symptomatic AAA
- Urgency of surgery for AAA precludes undertaking exercise programme. -
Sites / Locations
- Torbay HospitalRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Experimental
Structured Exercise Programme
An initial 45 min exercise counselling incorporating behaviour modification techniques. Participants will be offered three sessions per week of aerobic interval exercise on a cycle ergometer over nine weeks. Exercise programmes will be tailored to each patient, taking previous level of activity, mobility and any barriers to exercise into consideration. Following this: Participants will be encouraged to comply with current physical activity recommendations: 150 min of moderate intensity aerobic exercise per week (brisk walking / cycling). They will also be sign posted to local exercise facilities.